Heel lift and fastener



April 28, 1964 J. ROSN HEEL LIFT AND FASTENER Filed Oct. 27, 1960 y Fig. 5.

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lINPE/vraie. Jas'e Rafal@ HTTPNEYS Unite htates dice 3,139,503 MEL LET AND FASTENER Jos Rosn, Newport Beach, Calif., assigner to Rosan Engineering Qorporation, Newport Beach, Calif., a corporation of Califomia Filed ct. 27, 1969, Ser. No. 65,479 8 Claims. (Cl. 36-34) This invention relates to a means and method for detachably connecting a wear element to a shoe. More specifically, the invention relates to a fastener for detachably connecting a top lift to a ladys French-type shoe heel.

More particularly, the invention is directed to means for overcoming the problem involved in applying and/ or replacing a lift on metal heels and, particularly, lifts of relatively small area which soon become worn down `to a state where the shoe must either be discarded or a new lift attached thereto. rthe replacement of a lift of this type is beset with many problems which are solved by the present invention, in that it provides a fastener for securing a lift to a metal heel in a new and novel manner, whereby either a new lift may be secured to the heel at a factory or a shoe repair shop and be readily replaced when the lift has become worn down to the discarding stage.

The invention further relates to a fastener having a heel lift attached thereto by a molding operation.

The invention still further relates to a heel structure including an assembly of a heel, a fastener and a heel lift.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a fastener designed so that a wear element can be quickly and easily applied to a new shoe and a worn wear element can be quickly and easily removed and replaced by a new one.

A more specific obiect is to provide fastener means for attaching a top lift to a heel formed of ductile material, in such manner that the fastener is positively interlocked with the heel material and the lift is rmly held in place.

Another object is to provide a novel fastener for securing a lift to a ladys shoe heel, and which fastener is attached and retained in place by deforming or upsetting a portion of the heel material.

Still another object is to provide a novel fastener for securing a top lift to a shoe heel by cutting and swaging a portion of the material in a preformed opening of the heel to prevent both axial and rotative movement of the fastener and lift relative to the heel.

A further obgect is to provide a fastener having a heel lift attached thereto, and which fastener can be secured to a heel having an opening to receive the same, by a simple driving operation.

A further object is to provide a fastener for a heel lift that .can be easily withdrawn from the heel, and the heel reconditioned to receive a new fastener.

A still further object is to provide a simple tool that will form an opening in a heel adapted to receive the present fastener for securing a lift to the heel, and which tool can also be used to recondition an opening in a heel to receive a new fastener.

A further object is to provide a novel heel assembly including the present fastener and lift, and which assembly may be applied to a new shoe, or serve as a replacement for a worn heel on an old shoe.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear and will be brought out more fully in the following description, reference being to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the heel portion of a ladies shoe, the lower portion of the heel and lift being shown in cross section and a fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention being shown in elevation in a stepped opening in the heel;

PIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the lower end o-f the heel of FIG. l, illustrating the stepped opening as it appears prior to mounting the fastener there- 1n;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the heel of FIG. 2, but showing the fastener and lift in the position they assume relative to the heel prior to driving of the fastener to lock it to the heel;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the fastener driven into position and the lift engaged with the bottom of the heel;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the fastener per se;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the lower end of a heel from which a fastener has been removed, showing a reconditioning tool in alignment therewith for reconditioning the stepped opening prior to mounting a new fastener therein;

FlG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a heel having a modified form of fastener mounted therein; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of a heel and another form of heel lift fastener.

Referring more particularly to FIG. l of the drawings, the numeral l indica-tes generally a shoe having a French style heel 2, which is preferably made of light weight material such as aluminum, plastic, or the equivalent. A top lift 4 is engaged with the lower end face 6 of the heel 2. The lift l may be made of any suitable moldable material, such as rubber, plastic, Neolite, or other shoe composition material, etc.

The heel 2 has a cylindrical, stepped opening S in the form of a bore lll and an enlarged counterbore l1 extending inwardly from its lower end face 6. A radial shoulder 13 is disposed at the outer end of bore l() and the inner end of the counterbore il. The countenbore 1l is about twice the diameter of bore l@ and about three times as `deep as said bore, as is best shown in FIG. 2.

The lift 4 is secured to the end 2 by a special fastener i4. This fastener is preferably formed of steel for use in an aluminum heel, or of any other metal harder than the heel material, but may be yformed of a suitable hard plastic, depending upon the material of the heel in which it is to be mounted. The fastener 14 comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 16 of approximately the same diameter as the counterbore 1i, and a head 18 at the upper end thereof, which is of approximately the same diameter as the bore l0. The head i8 is concentric with the body 16, yand a continuous annular groove Ztl provides a recess defining a neck 2i of reduced diameter between the body '16 and head 18.

The upper end of the body 16 has a portion 22 of reduced diameter extending beyond a horizontal shoulder 24. A series of axially extending serrations 26 is formed about the entire periphery of the reduced portion 24, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The body 16 also has an end wall 28 that extends from the neck 2l to the outer margin of the serrations 26. The end wall 2S is inclined adjacent its peripheral portion Sli so that the upper ends of the serrations 26 are undercut at an acute angle to the axis of the fastener i4. The inclined portion 3l) of the end wall 28 may be disposed upon any desired angle, but it has been determined that an angle of approximately 7 degrees is satisfactory for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The junction of the inclined end wall portion 30 with the serrations 26 forms an annular cutter for performing a broaching and swaging operation on the shoulder 13 in the heel 2.

The body 16 also has a flange 32 at its lower end of a diameter larger than the diameter of the body 16. 'Ihe ange 32 is concentric with the body 16 and has a con- Patented Apr. 2s, i964v tinuous annular groove 34 formed in its outer periphery providing axially separated iiange portions 36 and 3S. The outer periphery of the fiange portions 36 and 3S is knurled to provide serrations 40 and 42, respectively, which extend completed around said flange portions. During the knurling operations, the material of the flange portions 36 and 38 is displaced axially so that parts of the serrations 44) extend beyond the upper face 44 of the fiange 32, and parts of the serrations 42 extend beyond the lower face 46 of said flange. Parts of the serrations 40 and 42 also extend into the annular groove 34, as is best shown yin FIG. 4.

In order to make the fastener 14 as light in weight as possible, and in order to provide means for facilitating removal of said fastener from a shoe heel, it is provided with an opening 4S which extends axially throughout the entire length of the fastener, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The manner in which the opening 4S is utilized to effect removal of the fastener 14 from a heel will be described later.

The lift 4 is preferably secured to the iiange 32 by a molding operation. During the molding operation, the fastener 14 is inserted in a suitable mold, and the material for forming the lift 4 is placed into the mold and forced to flow into the groove 34 and into the spaces between the serrations 4t) and 42. The lift 4 has a flat upper surface 50 that lies flush with the shoulder 44 of the flange 32, and a lower flat surface 52 that lies in a plane a substantial distance beyond the lower face 46 of said flange. The lift 4 has a peripheral side surface 54, which may be molded to conform to the contour of the end face 6 of the heel 2. Thus, it will be apparent that the material forming the lift 4 is interlocked with the flange 32 at the groove 34 and the serrations 4t) and 42 so that it cannot move axially or rotate relative to the fastener 14.

It is evident that, in a modified form 14B, FIG. 8, the liange 32A could comprise only an outer end flange portion 38A, and omit the flange portion 36. The 'lower end of the body 16A would then extend into an opening 5 in heel lift 4A, whereby more solid material could be molded between flange portion 38A and the upper surface 50A of thel-ift, as shown in FIG. 8.

In order to attach the assembly of the fastener 14 and lift 4 to the shoe heel 2, the fastener 14 is first inserted into the opening 8 with the head 18 located in the bore 10 and with the body 16 located in the counterbore 11, and with the ends of the serrations 26 engaged with the shoulder 13, as illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the length of the body 16 between the flange 32 and the upper end of the serrations 26 is slightly greater than the depth of the counterbore 11. Therefore, with the parts in the position shown in FIG. 3, the shoulder 44 of the flange 32 is spaced a substantial distance from the end face 6 of the shoe heel 2. Sutiicient force is then applied by hammer blows or by a press to the lower face 52 of the lift 4 to force the serrations 26 into the shoulder 13 until the upper surface 44 of the flange 32 and the upper surface 50 of the lift engage the surface 6 of the heel 2.

During the driving operation of the fastener 14, the serrations 26 will cut into the flange 13 and through the cooperation of the inclined portion 30 on the end wall 28, the material displaced by the serrations will be forced to ow radially inwardly into the groove 20 to positively interlock the fastener 14 with the shoe heel 2. The inclined portion 30 on the end wall 28 serves to guide the displaced material progressively inwardly into the groove 20. The depth of penetration of the fastener 14 into the heel 2 is limited by the engagement of the flange surface 44 with the end surface 6 of the heel, as shown in FIG. 4. This depthis calculated so that as much material is cut and forced to ow inwardly as is required to substantially fill the recess 20.

The fastener 14 is prevented from moving axially outwardly relative to the heel 2 by the heel material that has become interlocked with the recess 20. The fastener 14 is prevented from rotating relative to the heel 2 by the interlocking action between the serrations 26 and the grooves which they broach into the shoulder 13 during the driving operation. Relative rotation between the fastener 14 and the heel 2 is also opposed by the interlocking engagement formed between the end portions of the serrations 40 and the face 6 of the heel during the driving operation. Thus, the fastener 14 and heel lift 4 can be readily secured to the heel 2 against both axial and rotary movement by a few simple hammer blows applied to the lift 4.

In the event that it becomes necessary to replace a worn or damaged lift 4, the fastener 14 can be removed from the heel 2 by removing, if necessary, any portion of the lift 4 that overlies the opening 4S. A self-tapping fastener (not shown) may then be threaded into the opening 48 until it engages the bottom of the bore 11B, whereby, upon continued rotation of the self-tapping fastener, the fastener 14 will be forced out of the heel, shearing the portion of the heel material interlocked with the recess Ztl. If a self-tapping fastener is not available, then the fastener 14 can be removed by applying a prying force between the iiange surface 44 and the heel surface 6. Alternately, the lift material may be stripped from the fastener 14 and force applied through the groove 34 to pry the fastener 14 out of the heel 2.

After a fastener 14 has been removed from the heel 2, the heel may be reconditioned, if necessary, to receive a new fastener and lift by removing all projections or indentations remaining after a fastener has been removed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a tool that is suitable for this purpose. The tool is generally identified by the numeral 56 and comprises a shank 58 and cutting iiutes 60 and 62, respecl tively, formed upon body portions 64 and 66, respectively. The iiutes 6i? are adapted to enter the counterbore 11 and to remove sufficient material from the shoulder portion 13 to obliterate all grooves previously formed by the serrations 26, and simultaneously therewith, the flutes 62 engage the end face 6 of the heel 2 and remove a corresponding amount of material to eliminate any inydentations formed therein by the serrations 4t). The depth of material removed from the shoulder 13, is indicated by the closer cross-hatching and the dimension A, and the corresponding amount of material removed from the end face 6 is indicated by the closer cross-hatching and the dimension B. The final depth of the reconditioned counterbore 11 is indicated by the dimension C and corresponds to the original depth of the counterbore. This depth is assured by having the cutting faces of the flutes 60 and V62 axially spaced a distance D equal to the dimension C.

It will be understood that the tool S6 may be used on a new heel to provide the bore 1t) and the counterbore 11 yto receive the fastener 14.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of fastener 14A, similar to the fastener 14, except that it has an opening 48A which extends through the head 18, neck 20, but only about half way through the body 16. The opening 48A is provided in this instance to enable positioning of the fastener on a pin in a mold (not shown) to facilitate molding the lift 4 on the flange of the fastener.

While the foregoing description has dealt primarily with the use of the fastener 14 for securing a lift to a shoe heel, it will be understood that the fastener 14 may be used to attach any type of wear element to any type of shoe heel, and that, in fact, a plurality of fasteners may be used to secure a single lift or wear element of large area to a portion of a shoe or other object of corresponding size.

It will also be understood that While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, this has been done for illustrative purposes only Y and not by way of limitation, since it is obvious that various changes may be made in the relative proportions and arrangements of the fastener and lift without departing from the principles of the invention and the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener for attaching a wear element to a shoe, comprising: a cylindrical body; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter than said body; a neck connecting said head to said body, said neck being smaller in diameter than said head and concentric with said body and with said head, whereby an annular recess is formed between said head and body; annular cutter means on said body adjacent said neck at said one end thereof, said annular cutter means being greater in diameter than said head but not greater in diameter than said body; and means at the other end of said body for securing a wear element thereto.

2. A lfastener for attaching a heel lift to a shoe heel having a stepped opening in one end thereof, comprising: a cylindrical body; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter lthan said body; a neck connnecting said head to said body, said neck being smaller in diameter than said head and concentric with said body and with said head, whereby an annular recess is formed between said head and body, said one end of said body 'having an annular surface at its outer periphery of greater diameter than said head, but not greater than the diameter of said body, said annular surface being inclined toward said neck in a Idirection away from said head to provide a cutting edge; and means at the other end of said body for securing a heel lift thereto.

3. A fastener for attaching a heel lift to a shoe heel having a stepped opening in one end thereof, comprising: a cylindrical body; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter than said body; a neck connecting said head to said body, said neck being smaller in diameter than said head and concentric with said body and with said head, whereby an annular recess is formed between said neck and body; serrations extending axially on the outer periphery of said body at one end thereof adjacent said neck, said serrations being disposed outwardly of said head, but not outwardly at the outer periphery of said body, said one end wall of said body extending outwardly from said neck to said serrations and being inclined toward the other end of said body from said serrations inwardly toward said neck at an acute angle to the axis of said body; and means at said other end of said body for securing a heel lift thereto.

4. A fastener for attaching a heel lift to a shoe heel having a stepped opening in one end thereof, comprising: a cylindrical body; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter than said body; a neck connecting said head to said body, said neck being smaller in diameter than said head and concentric with said body and with said head, whereby an annular recess is formed therebetween, said body having a wall at said one end thereof including an outer marginal portion that is inclined radially at an acute angle to the axis of said body from the periphery of said body toward said neck in a direction away from said head; and a ange on the other end of said body adapted to have a heel lift attached thereto, `a knurled surface on the outer periphery of said flange, said ange being wider at its outer periphery than at points spaced radially inwardly of 4said outer periphery.

5. A fastener and heel lift adapted to be secured to a shoe heel having a counterbored opening, comprising: a cylindrical tbody; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter than said body; a neck connecting said head to said body, said neck being smaller in diameter than said head and being concentric with said body and with said head, whereby an annular recess is formed therebetween, the end wall of `said body `at said one end thereof being inclined at an acute angle to the axis of said body from the periphery of said body to said neck in a direction away from said head; and a heel lift secured to the other end of said body.

6. A fastener and heel lift adapted to be secured to a shoe heel having a counterbored opening, comprising: a cylindrical body; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter than said tbody; a neck connecting said head to said body, said neck being smaller in diameter than said head and concentric with said body and with said head, whereby an annular recess is provided between said head and body; serrations extending axially around the outer periphery of said body at said one end thereof adjacent said neck, the end wall of said body at said one end thereof extending outwardly from said neck to said serrations and being inclined on an -acute angle toward the other end of said body from said serrations inwardly toward said neck; and a heel lift secured to said other end of said body.

7. A fastener and heel lift `adapted to be secured to a shoe heel having a icounterbored opening, comprising: a cylindrical body; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter than said body; a neck connecting said head to said body, said neck being smalier in diameter than said head and being concentric with said head and body, whereby an annular recess is formed therebetween; an axially serrated portion on said body extending completely around the periphery at said one end thereof adjacent said neck, said body having an end wall disposed between said serrated portion and said neck and being inclined at an acute angle to the axis of said body in a direction from said serrated portion toward the other end of said body, the Ajuncture of said serrated portion and said inclined end Wall forming a cutting edge; and a heel lift attached to said other end of said body.

8. A fastener and heel lift adapted to be secured to a shoe heel having a icounterbored opening, comprising: a cylindrical body; a head at one end of said body, said head being concentric with and smaller in diameter than said body; a neck connecting said head to said body, said neck being smaller in diameter than said head and being concentric with said body and with said head, whereby an annular recess is formed therebetween, said body having a portion of reduced diameter adjacent said neck and having serrations extending completely around the periphery of said reduced portion; a flange on the other end of said body, the periphery of said ange having a medial portion of reduced diameter and being knurled on each side of said medial portion; and a lift secured to said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,923,071 Whitted Feb. 2, 1960 2,937,461 Trela May 24, 1960 3,035,358 Ross May 22, 1962 3,055,125 Ronci Sept. 25, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,155,298 France Nov. 25, 21957 1,224,398 France Feb. 8, 1960 1,227,916 France Mar. 7, 1960 826,006 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1959 

1. A FASTENER FOR ATTACHING A WEAR ELEMENT TO A SHOE, COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICAL BODY; A HEAD AT ONE END OF SAID BODY, SAID HEAD BEING CONCENTRIC WITH SAND SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID BODY; A NECK CONNECTING SAID HEAD TO SAID BODY, SAID NECK BEING SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID HEAD AND CONCENTRIC WITH SAID BODY AND WITH SAID HEAD, WHEREBY AN ANNULAR RECESS IS FORMED BETWEEN SAID HEAD AND BODY; ANNULAR CUTTER MEANS ON SAID BODY ADJACENT SAID NECK AT SAID ONE END THEREOF, SAID ANNULAR CUTTER MEANS BEING GREATER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID HEAD BUT NOT GREATER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID BODY; AND MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY FOR SECURING A WEAR ELEMENT THERETO. 